French 2021 Economic Growth Strongest in 52 Years at 7 Percent

French 2021 Economic Growth Strongest in 52 Years at 7 Percent
People, wearing protective masks, shop at a local market amid a COVID-19 outbreak in a file photo. Stephane Mahe/Reuters
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PARIS—France posted its strongest growth in over five decades last year, hitting 7 percent as the euro zone’s second-biggest economy bounced back from the COVID-19 crisis faster than expected, data showed on Friday.

The economy grew 0.7 percent in the final three months of the year after a particular strong third quarter when it grew 3.1 percent, the INSEE statistics agency said in a preliminary report.